Make Your Own Blackboards

The writing is on the wall: Blackboards aren't just for the schoolhouse. Learn how to make your own out of items you already have around the house.

The writing is on the wall: Blackboards aren't just for the schoolhouse. Learn how to make your own out of items you already have around the house.

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Thayer Allyson Gowdy

Kitchen Blackboards

Transform any object with a flat, smooth surface into a blackboard. You can use enamel bakeware, as shown here, or you can make use of anything that strikes your fancy, such as an old mirror or a salvaged window.

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Thayer Allyson Gowdy

Dustpan Blackboard

Prep the surface by lightly sanding it to help the chalkboard paint go on smoothly. Use painter's tape along the edges to ensure the paint goes only where you want it to.

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Thayer Allyson Gowdy

Drawer Chalkboard

Apply two coats of paint (try Krylon Chalkboard Paint) using a small sponge applicator or roller, as the fibers in regular paintbrushes tend to leave behind streaks. Chalkboard paint comes in both liquid and spray versions. If you try the spray, be sure to cover the surrounding area carefully to prevent spatter.

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Thayer Allyson Gowdy

Erasers

Transform your erasers from dull to delightful. Glue scraps of vintage fabric, wallpaper, and old ads to the backs of standard erasers for retro appeal. Cheerful children's blocks are reinvented as erasers simply by gluing a piece of felt to one side.

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Thayer Allyson Gowdy

Cabinet Door Blackboard

An old cabinet door finds new life, thanks to the Farm Chicks, Teri Edwards and Serena Thompson. The duo specializes in recycling what some call junk into rustically charming (and useful) objects.

Want to learn more about the Farm Chicks' philosophy and their work? Visit thefarmchicks.com, which offers fun ideas and projects, as well as the latest information on their semi-annual Antique Show.

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